Stefania Saccardi
Councilor for Health, Welfare and Social-Health Integration of the Tuscany Region

“It is not the success that defines ourselves, but to live a life full of passion, curiosity, generosity and why not, even sacrifices. Whatever the importance of our work, if we are bold in our adventures and dreams, even if we will be forgotten, it does not matter. Only if we understand, we will care, only if we care we will help, only if we help we will all be safe”. The words of Jane Goodall, the British primatologist known around the world, are significant for the story I’m about to recount. Telling women’s stories, stories of those who didn’t give up on their dreams and feared nothing in their life, is a rare thing, especially among those who hold important public and political jobs, and that of Stefania Saccardi, Councilor for Health, Welfare and to the Socio-sanitary Integration of the Tuscany Region, who lives her life with “passion, curiosity, generosity” is one of these stories.

Before leaving for the summer holidays, she addressed an important message to all of us: “Donate your blood before you go on holiday, hospitals never close for holidays. I turn to the generosity of the Tuscan people, with the certainty that my appeal will be welcomed” and the first donation was hers. Having such a delicate role is a great responsibility, but she doesn’t hide and calmly answers when she tells me about her life.
“I was born in Florence; I attended the Classic High School, then Law School and I took the exam to become a lawyer”.

You graduated with a thesis on the role of the Public System in the Recovery of Drug Addicts.
“Indeed, my political commitment was born at the end of high school, and I already started my first institutional engagement during University. Then I decided it was important to have other experiences as well”.

Her face seems to light up with joy and contentment when recalling the past and continues: “I worked for the Ministry of the Interior, then for the Ministry of Grace and Justice and finally returned to Florence to become a lawyer”.

You always worked in the social field without ever forgetting to feel in harmony with others. What do you like most about your work?
“The most beautiful thing about my work is the tight contact with people, with their hopes, their suffering, the love for people, and the richness of human relationships”.

You began working in politics, starting from the “bottom” of the administration, as a District Councilor, then City Councilor, later Deputy Mayor in Campi Bisenzio, then elected as part of the City Council in Florence and served as Councilor of Welfare, international cooperation, sports, home, etc. But what is politics to you?
“Politics is first and foremost a great passion; it is a way to feel at the service of your community, to contribute to the world we live in, not just to look at what happens but to try to get involved in changing the things that don’t work”.

You showed in these last few years a great passion for your work, a passion that always accompanied you and has enabled you to achieve excellent professional results.
“I think that if we have the passion for a job or another, you don’t even realize that what you do is a job; this is how it was for me. The beauty of politics is to find solutions to people’s problems and to pursue their well-being; to make a difference in their lives, through services and opportunities, especially when needed. With these delegated powers I have the possibility, and I try to commit myself to the maximum”.

You’ve taken on so many responsibilities and, consequently, many risks, what was the biggest one?
“Every time you make a decision, there are risks. The decision, however, is indispensable in the work I do; it’s not an exercise of power but the acceptance of responsibility. The difficulty is often to choose between interests, all worthy of attention, but not all sustainable. However, it is necessary to choose, and it is necessary to explain the reasons behind the choice, even knowing that not everyone will agree and that you will be judged based on those choices. Working is the only way I know to do the best job I have been entrusted with. We can make mistakes, but we must listen, understand and work to reach the best possible result in the interests of people”.

How do you spend that little spare time you have?
“Politics leaves me little free time, but staying with my family is a moment of great joy and freedom; I like to read, go to the sea and cheer for Fiorentina football team”.

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